Ragdoll vs Maine Coon - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

The Maine Coon cat hails from Maine, USA. It’s a natural cat breed with actually little being known of its exact origins.

In fact, the first reference to the cat seems to have been in about 1861. It was in 1895 that a female Maine Coon was named Best Cat at a cat show held in Madison Square Gardens.

The Cat Fanciers Association was formed in 1908, and the 5th cat registered as a Maine Coon named Molly Bond.

The Maine Coon Breeders and Fanciers Association was formed in 1968. The cat is also the official state cat of Maine.

It was in the 1960s that a regular domestic longhaired cat with white fur produced several litters of cats. There was one litter where the kittens with a docile temperament, seemed to go limp when picked up.

Anne Baker set out to start a breeding program and all Ragdolls are descended from Baker's cats. In fact, the cat credited as the original Ragdoll was a cat with the name Josephine, and Ragdolls are sometimes called ‘the daughters of Josephine.

Baker set up her own registry, the International Ragdoll Cat Association. The IRCA still exists, but another pair developed the Ragdoll standard that is accepted by major cat registries. Today. The biggest international Ragdoll breed club is the Ragdoll Fanciers' Club International.

This is a large cat breed with strong bone structure. They can weigh between 5 and 9kg.

The height of these cats can be in the region of 25 and 41cm and they can reach a length of 97cm, including the tail. The body is muscular and robust with the chest being broad.

When it comes to the cat’s coat, the Maine Coon is characterized by the ruff along its chest. It has a 3-layered, water-resistant coat with longer hairs over a silky undercoat, and a long, bushy tail. The color of the coat can vary but the most common color is brown tabby. . It is medium- to long-haired. It’s a seasonal shedder with the fur being considerably thicker in the winter. All colors are available in this cat except blue.

Temperament:

The Maine Coon is a sociable cat and known for it playfulness as well as it being an intelligent cat and easy to train.

You’ll certainly need to supply the cat with some puzzle toys so as to stimulate his brain. It is also one of these cats known to have dog-like characteristics, becoming attached to its human owners, and being good-natured.

It is a loving cat and is also fairly vocal, wanting to tell its human owners what it wants. It’s not a lap cat. It is a gentle cat and gets on well with children and dogs as well as other cats.

The beautiful Ragdoll cat is a large, heavy-boned cat. Sometimes they can be 9kg in weight. It has a soft, silky coat that can be semi-long to long.

The cat has remarkable blue eye and the beautiful silky coat comes in several shades such as cream point, chocolate point, seal point, and others.

The ears are medium-sized and, the legs long and strong and the oval-shaped eyes are blue. The cat is known as a pointed breed, which means that the body is lighter in color than the points.

Temperament:

Ragdolls are casual, even-tempered, laid-back kind of cats. They are playful but not particularly energetic so you won’t find these cats leaping onto top perches such as what other cats do.

These docile cats love to be petted and pampered and carried around. It literally goes limp with pleasure at being loved and pampered by its human companions. He’s such a friendly cat who, much like a dog, will even greet you at the door and learn to play some games.

This amicable cat gets on well with children and other pets in the home, making a splendid family pet and he can even learn to walk on a leash.

Maine Coon cats are such awesome pets and highly entertaining. They're excellent climbers too and to add to their many amazing characteristics, they love playing in water too.

You’ll be doing him a favor by providing him with a paddling pool. They’re so clever, they may even learn to turn a tap on.

He is such a social, friendly, family-loving cat and it's not surprising that he’s a firm favorite with most cat lovers.

The Ragdoll really is a splendid cat for any family that loves pets. They are such loving cats and adore being pampered by their human owners.

These cats get on well with children and other pets, and because they are such mild-mannered cats, you never find a Ragdoll striking out in anger. That is why it is so important that children be taught kindness and gentleness with animals like the Ragdoll and not to take advantage of its good nature.

Playful and entertaining, the Ragdoll is bursting with his own unique personality – a super feline companion for the whole family.

There are certain health problems that seem to occur in this particular cat breed, including hip dysplasia and feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Hip dysplasia is a condition of the hip joint that can cause degeneration of the joints. It can lead to stiffness and pain for your cat and it can be that your cat develops osteoarthritis.

If your cat develops hip dysplasia it won’t want to jump, it becomes lethargic and there may even be muscle loss in the rear legs.

All cats, whatever the breed, can succumb to any one of the many cat diseases there are. A high-quality diet, a loving, caring lifestyle, the appropriate vaccines and parasite treatment can all help to keep your Ragdoll as happy and healthy as possible.

Ragdolls are generally healthy cats but you may want to look out for bladder stones. Another disease to watch for is a heart condition known as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This heart disease causes thickening of the heart muscle.

While the disease is usually found in older cats, there is also a juvenile form that affects younger cats, and often young Ragdolls.

Sometimes there aren’t symptoms, and if your cat has labored breathing, loses his appetite or has vomiting, you may need to get your Ragdoll to the vet who will listen to his heart for abnormalities.

Cat owners need to realize that diet is one of the most important factors of keeping a cat healthy. The Maine Coon needs nutritious food.

Some people give their cat a mix of dry kibble as well as wet food. It is better to feed your pet smaller meals as opposed to large meals. What is very important is that the cat food is of a high-quality and that it be made up of meaty protein as every cat is a carnivore.

Provide your Maine Coon with a litter box and put it in a quiet, private area. It’s a large cat so make sure the litter box is large as well. With a cat you may need to experiment with him to figure out where he prefers his litter box to be.

This is an active cat so ensure that he gets plenty of exercise. Provide him with climbing equipment and stimulating toys. Your Maine Coon might even enjoy going for a walk and for this, you’ll need to get a cat harness.

Every cat likes to scratch – it’s normal behavior. Make sure you have one or two scratching posts with heavy bases set up for your cat otherwise he may direct his scratching on your furniture.

Every cat owner needs to know a good vet in their area so that their pet can get immediate veterinary help when he becomes sick.

Your Maine Coon’s coat is thick – made up of 3 layers. To maintain its silky feel, and to prevent matting, make sure to brush it once or twice a week. Make it an enjoyable, gentle grooming session for your furry pet. Speak to your vet about the right kind of brushes.

Even though the Ragdoll’s coat is long and silky, it’s the kind of coat that doesn’t require too much maintenance. Certainly, you’ll want to comb and brush it once a week.

The other grooming he requires is regular nail trimming.

Understand your Ragdoll’s eating habits. Remember cats are carnivores and this means that their diet has to be made up of meat. Food puzzles are great for these cats but whatever snacks and treats you give your Ragdoll, make sure that they are healthy for a cat and don’t give your cat digestive problems.

Provide your Ragdoll with a litter tray and make sure to remove the feces every single day.

Cats are prone to periodontal disease, but while it has become the latest trend to brush your pet’s teeth, this can be upsetting and traumatic for a pet. A good diet can help to keep teeth healthy. Your vet can look inside your pet's mouth to see if any teeth need attending to.